Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan

Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan (; born 11 March 1961), popularly known by his initials as MBZ, is an Emirati royal and politician who currently serves as the third president of the United Arab Emirates and the ruler of Abu Dhabi. MBZ completed his education in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain, and graduated from the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in April 1979. He later joined the UAE Military, and held various posts before becoming a pilot in the UAE Air Force; he was promoted to general in 2005. Sheikh Mohamed is the third son of Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, who was the first president of the UAE and the 16th ruler of Abu Dhabi. MBZ became the crown prince of Abu Dhabi in 2004, following the death of his father and his brother, Sheikh Khalifa becoming the president of the UAE and the ruler of Abu Dhabi. In 2014, Sheikh Khalifa suffered a stroke; then MBZ became the de facto ruler of Abu Dhabi and president of the UAE. MBZ officially became president of the UAE and ruler of Abu Dhabi following the death of his brother on 13 May 2022. On 29 March 2023, MBZ appointed his son Sheikh Khalid as crown prince of Abu Dhabi. Academics have characterized the UAE under MBZ as an authoritarian country and an authoritarian capitalism. Since becoming de facto president, the UAE went through a period of economic liberalization, including the introduction of VAT, corporate taxes and bankruptcy laws; the elimination of gas subsidies, the removal of curbs of foreign ownership of businesses and the decriminalization of bounced cheques. The UAE also went through some social liberalization, including the de jure removal of corporal punishment and Sharia law outside of blood money claims and personal status matters of Muslims; the decrimilization of co-habitation, extra-marital relationships and alcohol consumption by Muslims; a legal process of children born outside of wedlock; and civil courts for personal status matters of non-Muslims.